Cormous geophyte up to 35cm. Corm with a cap of short, fine bristles. Leaves 2-8, spreading and grass-like, upper half Y-shaped in cross-section; flowers are solitary on hollow stalks, usually yellow (sometimes white), very variable in size, sometimes with an iridescent dark centre, usually striped on the reverse; bract single, long, green and tightly sheathing the flower stalk.